Float-operated circuit-closer



J. l. STANFA.

FLOAT OPERATED cmcun CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24| 1917.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921 a UNlTED S-TATE'S PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPHI. STANFA, or EBIE,VFPENNSYLVANIA.

7 FLOAT-OPERATED orncurr-crosna.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 20, 1921.

Application filed August 24, 1917. Serial 170,187,977. i

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPHI. S'rANFA,-a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Float-Operated Circuit-Closers, of which the following is a specification; v

My invention relates to improvements in float operated circuit closers.

The object of my invention is to provide an indicator for receptacles, which will indicate at some distant point that the receptacle is full of water or other liquid or is empty, and at the same time providing means whereby the tank forms one terminal of the electric circuit for operating the indicator.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide an indicator of this character in which the electric connection can be readily detached for the purpose of removing the receptacle in respect to the electrical indicator.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and effective indicator of this character having certain de tails of structure and combination of parts hereinafter set forth. 3

In the accompanying drawings 7 Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view showing my indicator applied to a receptacle.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and showing the de vice applied to a drip pan of a refrigerator.

Fig. 3ris a top plan view showing an attachment by means of which the device may be changed to indicate that the receptacle is empty. 7

Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of the pivoted float lever.

While I have shown and described the invention as applied to a drip pan of a refrigerator, it will be understood that the same can be used in connection with any form of receptacle in which it is desired to indicate at a distant point when the receptacle is full or when it is empty.

Referring now to the drawing, 1 indicates a tank which is shown of rectangular form and which has at one side the two inwardly openings 6, in which are arranged blocks 7 of rubber or other insulating material, and passing through the said ears '2 and and through the blocks 6 is a pivot 8, where by the lever is free toswing on the pivot and yet is insulatedfrom the receptacle.

The lever 5, as shown, is curved downwardly at 9- and has a pointed outer end 1O, which is adapted to enter the cork float 11. The opposite end of the lever 5 has an extension 12. Arranged at some distant point is a signal 13, which is shown in the form of a bell, or any indicating device. The bell is in circuit with two wires 14 and 15. One wire leads through the battery 16 and is connected to a spring clip 17, which is adapted to clip over the end 12 of the intermediately pivoted float lever 5. The other wire 15 of the electric circuit is connected to a small clip 18 which slips over the upper ends of the receptacle 1 adjacent the intermediately pivoted float lever.

The receptacle 1 is adapted to receive the drip from the refrigerator and as it becomes filled with water the float rises swinguntil it engages the upper edge of the re- 'ing the outer end 12 of the lever 5 down oeptacle 1 at 19 Fig. 2, whichcompletes the circuit to the bell or any indicating device through the receptacle, as will be readily seen by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. The clips 17 and 18 are removed when it is desired to remove the drip receptacle for emptying it.

When it is desired to use the same device for an indicator for indicating that the re ceptacle l-is empty, I provide a clip 20, which slips over the end 12 of the intermediately pivoted float lever 5, and said clip and completes the circuit through the receptacle for operating the indicating device or lamp for indicating that the tank is empty.

By this arrangement it will be seen that I have produced a very simple and effective indicator which can be applied to any form of receptacle, and which can be operated by a child as it is only necessary to pull the two clips 17 and 18 from engagement with the float lever and the side of the receptacle,

and the receptacle can be moved from be.- neath' the refrigerator to any point for emptying the same.

Having thus described my invention,- what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is z- 1. In a circuit closer, the combination with a receptacle, inwardly extending ears carried by the receptacle, a float lever having downwardly extending ears intermediate its ends extending between the ears carried by the receptacle and having an angular opening therein, insulating blocks within said openings, a pivot extending through the ears carried by the receptacle and through the blocks, a float carried by the inner end of the lever, and a terminal detachably mounted on one end of the lever and another terminal mounted on the receptacle, whereby the raising of the float causes the outer end a float carried by the inner end of the lever within the receptacle, a detachable arm carried by the end of the lever and extending across the tank and adapted to engage the opposite side of the tank-when the float is lowered in the tank, and an electric terminal detachably connected to the outer end of the lever and another terminal detachably connected to the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH I. STANFA. 

